Sri Lanka ‘defeated conspiracy at UN’

There has been a major international conspiracy against Sri Lanka at the recently concluded UNHRC session in Geneva, the country’s delegation claims.

Plantation Development Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told journalists in Colombo that the delegation managed to thwart the conspiracy.

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillai, he said, tried to bring in the report of the UN expert panel to the UNHRC "through the back door."

The government delegation also expressed regret over the conduct of the Canadian government representative who attempted to propose to the session that the expert panel report should be discussed by the UN rights body.

Shavendra Silva

Expressing serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record, Canadian prime minister has said he would boycott 2013 Commonwealth Summit to be held in Colombo if the rights situation does not improve.

"When many delegates expressed objections, Canada finally got a message that the resolution would not be passed," the minister, who was the head of Sri Lanka government delegation said.

"This is a big victory for us," he added.

Minister Samarasinghe, however, warned that more attempts might be made to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka at the next UNHRC session in March, next year.

Responding to journalists questions on the government’s response to the civil case filed against Maj Gen Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka’s deputy permanent representative for UN in New York, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris said the government is concerned why a person with diplomatic immunity is issued with legal notice in the United States.

"Although it is a civil case, the charges are related to disposing of his official duties," said Mr Peiris.